Trailing by 11 points with 56 seconds left in the game on Monday night, the Raven men’s basketball team erased their double-digit deficit and almost pulled off another Ralph Nolan Gymnasium thriller over Missouri Valley College.
Benedictine (15-12, 9-7 HAAC) closed within two points inside the final 10 seconds of the game only to have Missouri Valley (10-18, 5-11 HAAC) convert two free throws late to hold off the Ravens offensive storm, 73-69.
The Ravens forced three turnovers in the final minute of the game and outscored the Vikings 9-2 to nearly pull off the miracle comeback.
The loss for Benedictine puts them in a three-way tie for fourth place in the HAAC standings with Avila University and Graceland University with two regular season games remaining. The Ravens split their season series with Graceland and lost the first game of the series to Avila on Jan. 21. Benedictine closes out the regular season on the road Saturday in Kansas City, Mo., against Avila.
Monday, after playing through two ties and five lead changes in the games first six minutes, Valley took over the lead and outscored Benedictine 21-12 over the final 12 minutes of the first half to lead by 11 at the break, 31-20.
Benedictine was limited to just seven first-half field goals while Valley knocked in 11 of 24. Defensively, the Ravens did hold the Vikings scoreless from beyond the arc in the first half as Valley went 0 for 7.
After Valley scored a field goal on their first possession of the second half, the next seven points were all scored from the charity stripe until Benedictine guard Elgin Caldwell (Sr., Tempe, Ariz.) converted a basket in the paint to pull the Ravens within 12 with sixteen minute and 33 seconds left in the game.
Over the next 15 minutes, every time Benedictine managed to cut into the Valley lead, the Vikings found an answer. Valley pushed its lead to as much as 22 points before Benedictine began to gradually chip away at their deficit.
Benedictine closed within seven points with just under two minutes left to play when guard Quaran Johnson (Sr., Philadelphia) knocked in a 3-pointer to make the scored 67-60 Valley.
Valley had a chance to put the game away from the charity stripe inside the final two minutes but went 4 for 6 at the free line before Benedictine was able to make their last-second offensive swing.
After Benedictine converted baskets down low off the Vikings first turnovers of the final minute from forwards Alex Miller (Sr., Scottsdale, Ariz.) and Charlie Wallrapp (Soph., Omaha), guard Brett Fisher (Fr., Overland Park) hit his fifth 3-pointer of the night to pull the Ravens within two inside the games final seconds.
Benedictine hit 17 second half field goals to work their way back into the game but in the end couldn’t overcome the free throw shooting of Valley in the second half.
Valley converted 18 of 29 from the charity stripe in the second half alone. Benedictine finished the night converting 12 of 22.
Four players scored in double figures for Benedictine, led by the 15 points of Fisher and Miller. Wallrapp finished with 13 followed by Johnson with 11.
Valley was anchored by the game high efforts of Kevin Stander and Matt Baker, who each scored 16 points. The duo also hit a combined 14 of 23 from the charity stripe.
The Ravens finished the game forcing Valley into 20 turnovers, off which they held a 23-9 advantage in points off turnovers.
Benedictine holds home court one last time during the regular season, hosting rival Baker University at 7:30 p.m. Thursday night. Thursday is Senior Night at the Nolan Gymnasium with the Raven and Lady Ravens Seniors being honored between games.
— BC Sports Information —